Police investigate prisoner scalding

The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service was notified Monday about an apparent attack on a female prisoner at Her Majesty’s Prison, Fairbanks, about 14 hours after the incident occurred.

According to a police report on the incident, a woman being held at the women’s prison in connection with machete attacks at Café del Sol and Burger King in downtown George Town last week, had scalding hot water tossed on her – presumably by other prison inmates – around 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

The RCIPS was not notified of the incident until 8 a.m. Monday.

Police said officers were sent to interview the woman in hospital, where they noted her left hand and forearm appeared to have been burned. Investigators are still looking into the incident.

The 39-year-old woman appeared last Friday in court charged with robbery, having a machete and knife in her possession outside her home, and using threatening behavior in connection with the incidents at the eateries on Wednesday, May 7. The magistrate hearing the case directed that she be remanded in custody for her own protection and welfare.

According to Fairbanks prisoners, the woman began screaming in her cell block on Sunday and could not be subdued, leading to a dispute with other prisoners. After the water scalding incident, prison guards were assigned to monitor the woman, but the screaming continued Monday.

The microwave used to heat up the water that scalded the woman on Sunday was removed from the Fairbanks common room.